Sleep is meant to be a restorative time for our body, but achieving this restful sleep can be extremely difficult if you’re dealing with pain and discomfort as a result of a recent shoulder surgery. You need to be smart about how you approach bedtime if you want to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night in the wake of a shoulder surgery operation. In today’s blog, we share five tips for getting better sleep while you’re recovering from a shoulder operation.
How To Sleep After Shoulder Surgery
Not only is sleep important for helping you feel rested and energized the next day, sleep is also an important part of the healing process. If you’re not getting quality sleep, it can actually serve to slow down your recovery after shoulder surgery. That said, we know that it’s easier said than done to achieve quality sleep when your shoulder is in pain as a result of a recent surgery.
If you’re hoping to make the sleep process a little simpler, consider these five tips:
- Time Your Medications – Odds are you’ll be prescribed a painkiller or anti-inflammatory medication to help calm discomfort as you recover. Instead of putting them on your bedside table and waiting until you crawl in bed to take your medication, take them a little earlier so that you’re feeling the pain-killing effects of the medication by the time your head hits the pillow. You’ll learn how your body reacts to these medications and how long it takes for them to become effective, so plan ahead and take them before you lie down so that they are helping from the moment you hop into bed.
- Ice Ahead Of Time – If you’re going to take your medications a half hour before bed, that’s also a good time to start icing the area. Using a cold pack or ice on the area will help to calm nerves and reduce inflammation in the area, both of which can help you fall asleep faster. It’s not advised to fall asleep with an ice pack on or near the surgically addressed area, so apply ice before you go to bed.
- Sleeping Position – If you’re a side sleeper, you’re going to want to sleep on your side that was not operated on. If you’re going to sleep in a different position, oftentimes doctors will recommend that you attempt to sleep on a small incline. Raising the head of the bed a little bit will take some pressure off your upper body and shift it to your lower body, which will prove helpful while your shoulder is in a weakened state. If you have an adjustable bed, you can do this easily, otherwise a medical supply store may be able to provide you with a wedge or lifting device to help you safely incline your bed.
- Prop A Pillow Underneath – If you’re sleeping on your side, consider putting a small pillow or folded towel between your shoulder and torso. This will help to open up blood vessels in the area and promote healthy circulation when you’re sleeping, which can actually help to speed up your recovery. This also helps to make the shoulder area a bit more comfortable, and comfort is king when you’re trying to fall asleep at night.
- Minimize Interruptions – Finally, make sure that your sleep environment is conducive to restorative sleep. You may fall asleep with the television on or with the windows open, but flashing lights or loud noises from outside can interrupt your sleep. You may not normally have a hard time falling back to sleep, but if your medication has worn off or your shoulder is just uncomfortable, it can be a nightmare to get back asleep after waking up. Make your bedroom a cool, dark place that is free from possible distractions or sources of sleep interruptions, and you’ll find it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep after shoulder surgery.
For more tips on any part of the recovery process, or to talk to a shoulder specialist about your symptoms, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
